Easel



I April 22, 1930. M. ROI'BERTS EASEL Filed July 5, 1928 I Mil 7V? [01 144080 M @547? Patented Apr. 22, 1930 EDWARD IVI. nonnn rs, smond BEACH, CALIFORNIA EAsEL Application filed July a, 1928. Serial No. 290,069.

vention, the ledge member being removed from Fig. 1 to show another adaptation of my invention.

Referring specifically to the drawings, my invention in its present embodiment comprises an inverted U-shaped frame constructed of two strips of metal or other suitable material having linear portions 15 secured by rivets 16 to each other and in spaced parallel relation. From the lower ends of the linear portions 15 reversely curved portions 17 extend and merge into fiat diverging portions 18 disposed at right angles to the curved portions by twisting the metal at the junction of the two, as indicated at 19.

The lower ends of the diverging portions 18 arebent to form brackets 20 of L form and with the vertical portions of the brackets slightly spaced from the diverging portions 18 and the substantially horizontal portions of the brackets projecting forwardly and at right angles to the diverging portions 18.

The upper ends of the linear portions 15 are bent outwardly and substantially at right angles to provide lateral extensions 21, the linear portions and extensions coacting to form a T-shaped head for the U-shaped frame. This head, in so far as the functioning of the frame to support a picture or other article thereon, is a continuation thereof in that it does assist in supporting a picture or other article should it belonger than the frame; Further, the head constitutes a 1 i handle to be gripped in moving the easel from place to place as Wlll be understood.

For supportmg'the frame and its head in inclined, position in the usual manner of easels,,l provide a leg 22, also, formed from a strip of metal or other suitable material and which, by means of the lower rivet 16, is pivotally mounted at its upper end between the link portions 15 in order that it may be movable to occupy various positions to support the frame at. any desired inclination. The linear portions are associated with the upper end of the leg '22 insuch manner that they operate to frictionally retain the leg in. any adjusted position. In order that the lower end of the leg may have proper con tact withany support upon which the easel is-placed and in a manner to prevent reare ward swinging'movement of the leg, and, as

a consequence, collapsing'of the frame, the

strip of which the leg is formed is twisted in? Q terme diate its ends, as indicated at 23, thereby disposing that portion of the leg beneath the twist at right angles to that portion of the leg above the twist and, as a consequence, disposing the-lower end of the leg at right an- I glesto the pivot16.

For the purpose of thick objects such as books and the like, TV

provide a ledge member comprising a flat supporting relatively body portion 24 and a depending lip 25, the

two being made from a single sheet of metal orother suitable material. In its association with the frame, thelip 25 of. the ledge memher is inserted between the vertical portions of the brackets 20 and the diverging portions 18, the body 24 of the member reposing on the horizontal portions of the brackets, all as illustrated in Fig. 2. With the ledge memher applied as described, it forms a bridge between the brackets 20 and a ledge of such width as to provide ample support for books i or other objects of various thickness. In dotted lines I have illustrated, in Fig. 2, an

open book in applied position on the easel, its lower edge reposing on the ledge member and its back resting against the frame of the easel.

In Fig. 1 the ledge member has been removed, and in dotted lines I have shown a picture and its frame in applied position on the easel. As applied, the lower edge of the frame of the picture reposes on the horizontal portions of the brackets, the back of the frame resting against the frame of the easel and also on the linear portions 15 of the head. It

will be understood that if the picture frame is of such height as to extend beyond the frame, the T head will function to support the upper part of the frame. It will, of

course, be understood that the bridge meme ber is removable from the brackets when not in use, and that the leg 22rcan be folded to at from the linear portions, flat diverging portions at right angles to the curved portions,

3 the free ends'of the diverging portions terminating in brackets having extensions outwardly projecting from the diverging-portions, a supporting'leg pivoted between the linear portions and frictionally embraced by the latter to maintain the leg-in any position of adjustment, and a ledge member bridging the brackets and having'a lip engaging within the brackets, and a body portion supported on the extensions. 7

2. An easel comprising two strips of ma terial having linear portions secured to each other, reversely curved portions extending from the linear portions, fiat diverging portions atright angles to the curved. portions, the free endsofthe diverging portions terminating in brackets having extensions outwardly projecting from the diverging portions, portions extending laterally from the upperends of the linear portions, a supporting leg pivoted between the linear portions and frictionally embraced by the latter to maintain the'leg in any position'of adjust ment, and a ledge member bridging the brackets, and having a lip engaging within the brackets, and a body portion supported on the extensions.

8. An easel comprising an inverted U-shaped frame having L-shaped brackets at the lower-:endsthereof, and a ledge member having a 11p received between the brackets of June, 1928. A EDWARD ROBERTS. 

